Treatments

Expert reviews: Work-week essentials

20 Mar 2017 5:00 AM |
Posted by

bh's Sophie Howe

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It can be hard to stay organised during the work-week. Balancing your social life, hobbies and being a #girlboss all at the same time is no easy feat. We all want to look our best while we tackle a hectic week, so it’s important to have go-to products that we can rely on to get us through from Monday to Friday looking fab.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

bh’s Sophie says:

"I’ve been trying to cut down the minutes in my makeup routine for months now. From swapping out foundation for a tinted moisturiser (full-coverage, of course!) to skipping eyeliner most mornings, I’m making some progress. I love a fresh, dewy complexion, so getting my base perfect is a top priority. This is why I’m obsessed with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It seamlessly blends my foundation in seconds and I never have to worry about an uneven result.

For a glowy finish, it’s best to use the sponge when it’s wet, but because I don’t have time (read: lazy) to wet it under the sink, I’ve been using a setting spray to dampen the sponge before I use it. I spritz the setting spray onto the sponge until it’s damp and then use it to apply my foundation. The pointed edge of the sponge is great for applying concealer to cover any blemishes. For hiding dark circles, the flat edge of the sponge is the perfect shape for pressing in concealer under the eyes. And this multi-tasker doesn’t stop there, you can use the round edge of the sponge to apply cream blush!

This sponge would make a great addition to any makeup bag, especially if you want a flawless finish, fast."

EVY Professional InfusaLite Dryer

bh’s Astrid says:

"I'll be honest, I've not been the biggest fan of blow drying in the past. Since I have straight, thin-ish hair, I've never really felt the need to blast it with heat to get it to dry - it usually does that on it's own in about twenty minutes. But, since the weather has been so wet and dreary lately, I've found that it's been taking much longer than usual to dry naturally.

For the past few weeks, the EVY Professional InfusaLite Dryer has been a godsend. It's been drying my locks to absolute perfection in under two minutes without sapping the moisture or causing any heat-related damage. I normally get a lot of static after blow-drying (another reason I prefer not to), but this dryer doesn't seem to have that effect on my hair as much as others, plus I love how lightweight it is and easy to manage - no more sore arms!

As we approach more wet days and cooler months, I might just be a fan of blow-drying after all."

Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail Polish and Top Coat

bh’s Rosie says:

"I often paint my nails at home, so for me, a formula that promises to last for up to 10 days is a God-send. I’ve been trialling the new Sally Hansen Color Therapy range which includes a nail polish and top coat - no base coat is required. Both the Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail Polish and the Sally Hansen Color Therapy Top Coat are enriched with nourishing argan, acai and evening primrose oil to help nourish, hydrate and condition your nails.

The colour I trialled is the summery pink shade called ‘Aura’nt You Relaxed’, and I was shocked at how long the polish lasted before it started chipping. After about four days, I had one very small chip on my thumb nail which is pretty impressive to me! Also, the finish stayed super shiny and glossy, which is very important for a long-lasting manicure. When removing the polish, it came off quickly and easily with nail polish remover, and my nails felt soft and nourished.

This range is perfect for anyone who wants a long-lasting mani that will look like a freshly painted, glossy mani for days on end."

anumi Volumise Shampoo and Conditioner

bh’s Laura says:

"I have naturally fine hair so more often than not, it looks limp and lifeless. I loved the scent of the anumi Volumise Shampoo and the anumi Volumise Conditioner and it definitely provided my hair with more oomph. After washing my hair with these, I noticed that it looked fuller and didn’t look flat at the roots. I washed my hair with the shampoo twice, massaging it in to stimulate my scalp. I liked that it didn’t make my hair feel dry afterwards. I then applied the conditioner all over my head. I usually only use conditioners on the ends as they can make it feel oily however, that wasn’t an issue with this product. The conditioner left my hair feeling soft and nourished without weighing it down. Both products are natural which is great as it’s nice to know it doesn’t contain silicone or sls that can drag my hair down."

What products do you use to get you through the work week? Will you be trying any of the products our experts reviewed?

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I completely agree with using the beauty sponge, I use it everyday! I think the best part about it is that it is so much more easy and quicker to wash and dry than a makeup brush, making it great for everyday use cause it is more likely to get wash often = less bacteria being spread!

I do own lots of make up brushes for eyes, face, powder ect... BUT the quickest way (for me anyway), to apply any kind of cream / liquid base product (or cream products in general), is my hands / fingers. Using your hands warms the product and you can feel every 'nook and cranny' of your face structure, ensuring the product is blended seamlessly.

I also use fingers to apply my cream blush, some lipsticks, cheek highlight and eye shadows. Again the warmth from your fingers ensures the product melts into you skin, mixes seamlessly with your natural oils and gives a beautiful natural finish. By far the quickest method to get you out of the door looking fabulous.